All About Pocket Knives

Folded sheet metal handle, 2-3/4'' closed w/o the lanyard ring. Single blade sharpened on one side only, and a folding can opener which is held closed by the lanyard ring.

Only mark is a diamond w/ three straight lines inside, which is stamped on the handle.

Olive drab painted finish makes me think it came in a military survival kit of some sort, or with rations, but I posted it here in case it's a second generation hotdog peeler or sumptin'.

Fran

Fran, It definitely looks to be military issue, but by whom, I wouldn't have a clue. I forget what we used to call the little can openers we would get with our field rations, P-32 or something like that.

perhaps an "in country" modification?
that outside blade looks to be from a p-38...thats what we called the c-rat can openers.

the p38 is so useful it's been incorporated to a lot of applications.

just when i thought i knew all the different ways to cut myself...you show 11 more...

gringo wrote:just when i thought i knew all the different ways to cut myself...you show 11 more...

Sauconian wrote:Folded sheet metal handle, 2-3/4'' closed w/o the lanyard ring. Single blade sharpened on one side only, and a folding can opener which is held closed by the lanyard ring.

Only mark is a diamond w/ three straight lines inside, which is stamped on the handle.

Olive drab painted finish makes me think it came in a military survival kit of some sort, or with rations, but I posted it here in case it's a second generation hotdog peeler or sumptin'.

Fran

A good friend of mine who isn't registered emailed me with this information to post:
Knife is American issue to the ARVN forces during the Vietnam War.
Knife was made in Japan.
As these were not issued to American Troops, they are quite rare.

Thank you A.K., and your friend too, for the information.

Why don't you register ' friend' ? It's easy, and we like new members.

Fran

Very interesting knife Fran. Great collection of openers Johnnie s-k

Any more info on this patent... i.e., when did the folding opener attachment first appear? Thanks

thanks s-k, but i stole the pic while trying to research fran's knife. i posted as info. i looked for an hour without any luck.

jonet143 wrote:thanks s-k, but i stole the pic while trying to research fran's knife. i posted as info. i looked for an hour without any luck.

Jeezzz, Johnnie..sorry.....but it's not my knife.

I friend called to look at some new one's he'd just picked up, and this was the only one I wanted. He didn't want to sell this one, and didn't know what it was, so I offered to post it.

I don't think I said anything about returning it though.

But then....the mystery is solved....so I don't needed it anymore !

Fran

that's ok, fran. i like doing knife research.

This is what I love about this site, excellent thread!